Mt. Lebanon Percussion Program kicks off concert series

By Jeremy Farbman

For The Almanac

writer@thealmanac.net

The Mt. Lebanon Percussion Program highlights students at its Evening of Percussion concert series.

Mt. Lebanon’s 29th annual “Evening of Percussion” concert series will take place this month, giving students a chance to show what they have accomplished through the Mt. Lebanon Percussion Program. There will be performances by many ensembles, including: Percussion Orchestra (directed by Rick Minnotte); Keyboard Ensemble and Brazilian Ensemble (directed by Subha Das); Concert Ensemble and Front (directed by Jeremy DeLuca); Freshman Ensemble, Drumset Ensemble and Drumline (directed by Jason Miller); and African Ensemble (directed by Dan Meunier).

Mt. Lebanon Middle School students also get to join in the fun, with the Honors Ensembles (the Blue, Gold and Eighth Grade Ensembles, all directed by Jeremy DeLuca). Each ensemble performs one piece that demonstrates what they have achieved in the past few months of rehearsals. Most of the pieces are amazing to hear performed live by talented students. While some groups, such as the drumline, are more serious performers, the Brazilian and African Ensembles always act like they are in the middle of a huge percussion party. There will be a wide variety of performances, sure to satisfy anyone interested in percussion or any type of live musical performance. The concerts are being held in the main Mt. Lebanon High School auditorium instead of the Fine Arts Theater due to construction.

The concert schedule is:

• “Evening of Percussion” – 7:30 p.m. May 16 and 17

• “Children’s Concert” – 2 p.m. May 18

• “Evening of Percussion – Senior Night” – 7 p.m. May 18

The Mt. Lebanon Percussion program is also holding the upcoming summer camp “Adventures in Percussion” at Mellon Middle School from 9 a.m.-noon June 17-20 and 24-27. This camp gives elementary school percussion students an example of what they can experience in the near future. It prepares the next generation of kids to wow the audience, just as the tradition has been for almost 30 years.

Jeremy Farbman is an eighth-grader at Jefferson Middle School in Mt. Lebanon.